Status: 08/25/2022 2:02 p.m
Too many greenhouse gases are still emitted in the building and transport sectors. And the emergency programs, on the other hand, are not sufficient according to the expert advice. The first environmental groups are already announcing the consequences.
The Expert Council for Climate Issues has sharply criticized the measures taken in the transport and building sectors to comply with the climate targets. According to the Council’s assessments, they should not be sufficient to meet the statutory climate targets for greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
The background is that in both sectors more greenhouse gases were emitted last year than provided for in the Federal Government’s Climate Protection Act. As a result, the two responsible ministries – the Ministry of Transport under Volker Wissing and the Ministry responsible for climate protection and economy under Robert Habeck – presented so-called immediate programs. In other words, measures to cause fewer emissions.
What is the Expert Council on Climate Issues?
The Expert Council for Climate Issues is made up of five experts who are appointed by the Federal Government for five years. The head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Hans-Martin Henning, currently holds the chair. The members are supported in their work by a scientific staff.
The Council is only bound by the mandate established by the Federal Climate Protection Act and is independent in its activities. The committee examines the data on greenhouse gas emissions compiled annually by the Federal Environment Agency. If the climate targets are not met in one of the audited sectors, the responsible ministries are obliged to draw up emergency programs. These are then also checked by the expert council.
“Without sufficient claim”
The emergency program of Minister Wissing (FDP) and his department received harsh criticism in the assessment of the expert council. The conclusion: The proposals are “already without sufficient claim” to meet the climate target set for 2030. By then, nationwide greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced by at least 65 percent compared to 1990 levels. According to the Federal Environment Agency, 148 million tons of CO2 and other greenhouse gases were emitted in the transport sector last year – 1.2 percent more than in 2020. The amount for 2021 exceeded the maximum amount stipulated in the Climate Protection Act by three million tons.
According to the Expert Council’s report, the emergency program for the transport sector includes six measures. From this year to 2030, a total of 14 megatons of greenhouse gas emissions are to be saved. According to experts, far too little: there is still a gap of 261 megatons that would have to be saved over the next eight years.
Of the report says the Ministry of Transport’s emergency program has an “emission-reducing effect”. At the same time, the experts come to the conclusion that the measures are not even trying to get on the “target path” for 2030 provided for in the current climate protection law. This should only happen with the larger immediate climate protection program, which is expected to be decided in September, as Federal Minister of Economics Habeck announced.
Milder conclusion on the building sector
According to the Expert Council, compliance with the climate targets could also not be guaranteed in the building sector. Nevertheless, the panel expressed itself much milder about the emergency program for this sector. It could make a substantial contribution to reducing emissions.
However, the experts warn that by 2027 the climate targets will still be missed here. Only then could they possibly be complied with. By 2030, the program envisages greenhouse gas savings of 137 megatons. “Whether the savings can really be realized to this extent seems questionable after our examination,” said the chairman of the expert council, Hans-Martin Henning. The bottom line is that this emergency program does not ensure compliance with the climate protection requirements
Environmental aid announces lawsuit
The German Environmental Aid reacted with harsh criticism to the summary of the expert council. The emergency program for the transport sector is even illegal. The environmental aid announced that they wanted to file a lawsuit against the plans of Wissing’s department.
The federal director of environmental aid, Barbara Metz, accused the federal government of delaying necessary steps such as the switch to more climate-friendly heating. As a result, she is jointly responsible for excessively rising heating costs.
The BUND also criticized an irresponsible failure in climate policy. The German Climate Alliance even accused Transport Minister Wissing of “refusing to work on climate protection” and called on Chancellor Olaf Scholz to act.
Habeck refers to immediate program
After the expert council’s statement, the chairwoman of the Greens, Ricarda Lang, again pushed for the immediate climate protection program that the federal government wants to launch, which is planned for September.
Habeck also sees the traffic light coalition and the Bundestag as having “a duty” to decide on this program. The Green Minister emphasized that all areas of climate protection must make their contribution. “It’s not about abstract numbers, it’s about preserving the basis for a life in freedom and prosperity,” said Habeck.